A Warren man will spend the next two to four years in prison after an assault at the Warren State Hospital in 2025.

Matthew D. Johnson, 36, of Warren pleaded guilty to simple assault while second-degree felony aggravated assault, third-degree aggravated harassment by a prisoner and disorderly conduct charges were not prosecuted. Johnson was charged May 11, 2025, after an incident at the Warren State Hospital. On a second docket, Johnson pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault – attempts to cause bodily injury to designated individuals while a charge of harassment was not prosecuted. Johnson was charged April 23, 2025, by the State Police at Warren.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, an employee called police after an alleged incident with a patient at the state hospital. The aide told police that Johnson had allegedly punched a fire alarm several times until the alarm went off, which the aide said created alarm and panic throughout the building. The aide reportedly approached Johnson in an attempt to calm him down, but Johnson allegedly called the aide a derogatory name.

“Johnson then aggressively approached (the aide) with his fists in the air,” the affidavit states. “(The aide) backed up and grabbed Johnson’s arm as he swung at him. Johnson then backed up and spit directly on (the aide’s) face. Before (the aide) could react, Johnson spit again, hitting (the aide) in the chest. Hospital staff were able to detain and sedate Johnson before any further assaults.”

The aide sought medical attention because it wasn’t known if Johnson had any communicable diseases.

Johnson was sentenced to 22 to 44 months of confinement to satisfy the guilty plea to second-degree felony aggravated assault and then 2 to 4 months to satisfy a guilty plea to simple assault on the second docket. The sentences will run consecutively.